Pulsator for milking machines



Aug. 24, 1948-. 1.. DINESEN PULSA-TOR FOR MILKING MACHINES 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1945 W WMe 4%? 85 Wfii 4 v W 7 ll 4 n L M7 6 w m0 \,///|\Q/ k m :w 0

Aug. 24, I948. I... DINESEN Y ,4

PuLsA'roR FOR MILKING MACHINE-5' Filed- Feb. 21, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Patented Aug. 24, 1948 amuse rULsA'ron FOR MILKING MACHINES Lain-itsDinesen, MinneapolialMinm,

Perfection Manufacturing Corporation,

assignor to Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota ApplicationFebruary 21, 1945, Serial No. 579,040

Claims. (01. 31-62) My present invention relates to improvements 7 inpulsator valves for milking machines, and more particularly toimprovements in that type ofpulsator mechanism involving two pairs ofcylinders and pistons. In this type of pulsator, the pistons are airpressure operated and each pair of pistons operates a valve mechanismwhich controls the other pair of pistons, and the valve mechanismoperated by one pair of pistons also serves as the pulsating valvemechanism for alternately connecting the teat cups of the associatedmilking apparatus with a'source of partial vacuum and atmosphericpressure. In such pulsating mechanisms of this type as are in use atthis time, the valves are in the nature of slide valves eachreciprocated to and fro in a straight line by a different pair ofpistons, and ports controlled by each valve are cross connected to theother pair of cylinders. between the ports of the slide valve operatedby one set of pistons and the cylinders for the other set' of pistons isusually accomplished by drilling passages through solid bodies and is adifficult, time-consuming, and costly procedure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved pulsatormechanism, of the said type involving two pairs of piston-equippedcylinders, wherein the forming of connecting passages between the valveoperated by one pair of pistons and the cylinders for the other pairofpistons will be greatly simplified.

This cross connecting.

In accordance with the present invention, this and other importantobjects and objectives are achieved by employing oscillating rotaryvalves in place of the usual slide valves. In the embodiment of myinvention herein illustrated, these oscillatory rotary valves areconcentrically disposed between laterally spaced pairs of pistonequipped cylinders, and each is mechanically connected to be operatedfrom a different pair of pistons. With the valves thus mounted betweenthe opposite pairs of piston-equipped cylinders, the matter of drillingof interconnected passages between the valves and cylinders is greatlysimplified, thereby reducing manufacturing cost and achieving otherimportant objectives, such as increased life.

The above and other highly important objects and advantages of theinvention will be made apparent from the following specification,claims, and appended drawings;

In the accompanying drawings," like characters indicate like partsthroughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, with some parts broken away and some partsshown in section, of a milk pail of the type commonly used in connectionwith milking machines, and having mounted on its cover a pulsatormechanism of the present invention;

' Fig. 2 is a fragme tary view in side elevation,

, with some parts shown in section and some parts broken away, of thepulsator-equipped milk pail of Fig. 1 looking from bottom toward topwith respect to Fig. 1;

- Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, on a somewhat enlarged scale,taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, with some parts broken away andsome parts omitted, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a bottom perspective view of one of the pulsator valves;

Fig. 6 is a bottom perspective of the pulsator valves;

Fig. 7 isua transverse sectional view taken on the line 'I--'l of Fig.6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, with some parts on the line shown in fulland some parts broken away or omitted, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4and'showing also parts out or broken away in Fig. 4; and

Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are sectional views corresponding to Fig. 8 butshowing other positions of the pistons and valves.

' In the particular embodiment chosen to illustrate the invention, thenovel pulsator mechanism, indicated as an entirety by l, is mounted onthe cover '2 of a milk pail 3 of the variety commonly used in connectionwith milking machines. The milk pail 3 is maintained under partialvacuum, through connections and in a view of the other mannerhereinafter described, and the cover 2 thereof is seated on the open topof the pail gasket or sealing ring 4 of rubber, synthetic rubber, orother suitable material. In accordance with conventional practice, thepail cover 2 is provided with a yoke-like carrying handle 5 and valves 6and 1 that open downwardly through the cover 2 and are provided withoutwardly extending hose coupling nipples 8 that are adapted tobe'connected to the inner or milk receiving chambers of the teat cups,not shown, of the milking machine, through suitable flexible hoses, notshown; These valves 6 and 1 are of the conventional manually operatedtype which may be operated to regulate the milk flow to the pail.

-The pulsator mechanism illustrated comprises anchoring devices, such asare. shown at I6 in.-

Fig. 3. The opposed cylinder blocks I and II! are detachably anchored toopposite flat-faces of the body 9 by means of mounting flanges I1 andscrews or the like I8. The pistons A and B of opposed cylinders I I andII respectively are connected for common reciprocating movements by anintegrally formed connecting rod I9 so that the piston-equippedcylinders II and II op erate as a pair, and the pistons C and D ofcylinders I2 and I2 respectively are similarly connected for commonreciprocation by an integrally formed connecting rod so that thesepiston-equipped cylinders I2 and I2 function as a cooperating pair. Byreference to the drawings, it will be seen that the cylinders I I, II",I2, and I2 extend above the flat upper face of-the mounting block orbody 9 and that the piston connecting rods I9 and 20 extend acrossandwork over the said flat upper surfaces of the body 9. Also, byreference to the drawings, it will be seen that the outer ends of theseveral cylinders are closed to provide pressure chambers I3 thereinoutwardly of their respective pistons A, B, C and D. The pistons A, B, Cand D are provided with the customary sealing cups I3 of leather,rubber, or the like, which are secured to the pistons A, B, C and D byrigid washers I3a and cap screws [3b.

The oscillatory rotary valves I4 and I5 have flat under surfaces thatWork over flat valve seats I4 and I5, respectively formed by the flatupper surface of the body 9. The valve I5 is annular and works over thecylindrical radially outer surface of the valve I4 and valve I4 isjournalled on the intermediate portion of a head-equipped screw 2|having threaded engagement with the body 9. By reference to thedrawings, it will be seen that the mounting screw 2I for the valves I4and I5 is, in the preferred form illustrated, positioned at the centerof the flat upper surface of the body 9 where it is midway betweenopposed cylinders and is midway between the axes of laterally spacedpairs of cylinders. The valves I4 and I5 are free for independentoscillatory rotary movements one with respect to the other, and thevalve i4 is operated from one pair of pistons A and B through the mediumof an operating arm 22 and the valve I5 is operated from the other pairof said pistons C and D through the medium of an operating arm 23. Theseoperating arms 22 and 23 are pivotally mounted at their inner ends onthe screw 2I', the former beneath the latter. The, arm 22 has drivingengagement with the valve I4 through the medium of circumferential-1yspaced driving lugs 24 projecting from the upper surface of valve I4 andthe arm 23 has driving engagement with the valve I5 through similarcircumferentially spaced driving lugs 25 projecting from the uppersurface of valve I5. The outer ends of the arms 22 and 23 each workbetween a pair of pins 26 that upwardly project from the upper surfaceof an opposite piston connecting rod I9 or 20. These pins 26 are locatedat the approximate centers of their respective connecting rods. Asclearly shown in the drawings, the connecting rods I9 and 29 areconfined against rotation between the flat top surface of body 9 and thearms 22 and 23 respectively.

The interior of the body 9 is bored out to afford a pressu'recha'mber 21wherein there is maintained at pressure differing from atmosphericpressure, and which, in accordance with the present example, is asub-atmospheric pressure or partial vacuum This pressure chamber 21 isadapted to be connected to a suitable source of partial vacuum, such asa vacuum pump, not

shown, through suitable hose connections, not

shown, and a hose coupling nipple 28. Low pressure chamber, Zlisinconstant communication with the interior of the milk pail 3 through apail cover aperture 29 and a suitable moisture trap 30.

The annular valve seat I4 for the valve I 4 (that portion of the flattop surface of body 9 underlying the valve I4) is provided with anintermediate port 3I and opposite circumferentially spaced ports 32 and33. The port 32 is connected to the pressure chamber I3 of the cylinderbore I2 by connectedpassages 34 and 35 in the body 9 and one cylinderblock III respectively. The port 33 in the valve seat I4. for the valveI4 is similarly connected by connected passages 36 and 31 in the body 9and the other cylinder block II) respectively to the pressure chamber I3of cylinder bore I2. The intermediate port 3I through the valve seat I4of valve I4 is connected by a. passage 38 in body 9 toa drilled chamber39 in said body 9. This chamber 39 terminates-in .a dead end-within thebody 9 and is closed at its entrance end by a suitable plug or the likeat 40. By reference particularly to Figs. 3 and 8-10 inclusive, it willbe seen that the chamber 39 is connected to the pressure chamber 21 by ashort drilled passage 4| that is controlled by a needle valve 42 whichpermits manual regulation of the air flow from the chamber 39 andthereby controls the speed of the mechanism. For cooperation with theports 3!, 32, and 33, the .valve I4 is provided with circumferentiallyspaced ports 43, 44, and 45. The end ports 44 and 45 are in the natureof drilled holes extending axially through the valve body I 4;; whereas,the intermediate port 43 is in the nature of a segmental channel openingthrough the under surface of the valve body I4 and of sufficient lengthto span and connect the valve seat ports 3I and 33 in one extremeposition of the valve and to connect the ports 3I' and 32 in the otherextreme position of the valve I 4. Ports 44 and 45 are so spaced andpositioned that the former will register with port 32 when the port 43is registering with ports 3| and 33, and port'45 will register with port33 when port 43isregistering with ports 3| and 32. Hence, it will beclear that valve I4 controls pistons C and D of cylinders I2 and I2respectively.

The annular valve seat. I5 for valve I5 (that portion of the flat topsurface of body 9 underlying the valve I5.) is provided withcircumferentially spaced ports 46, 4 1, and 48. The port 41 is connectedto the pressure chamber I3 of cylinder' bore It by connected passages 49and 50 in the body 9 and the cylinder block I9 respectively. The.port-leis similarly connected to the pressure chamber I'3 of cylinderbore II by connected passages 5t and 52 in the body 9 and the othercylinder block I II. The intermediate port 49 opens into passage 38 andis thereby connected to the chamber 39. Cooperatingwith the valve was 5Seatports 46, 41, and 48 are :ports 53, 54, and 55. The intermediateport 53 is in the nature of a downwardly opening segmental slot (shownbest in Fig. 5) of sufficientlength to span and connect the ports 46 and41 in one extreme position of the valve l5 and to span and connecttheport's 46 and 48in the other extremeposition of the valve I5. The ports54 and 55 are in the nature of circumferentially extendednotches'thatopen downwardly against the underlying valve seat I5 andopen radially of the valve l5 to atmosphere, Theseports 54 and 55 are sopositioned that the former thereof willregisterwith and connect a valveseat port 41 or 48 to atmosphere when the other valve seat port 41 or 48is in registration with the segmental valve port 53.

The valve seat l5 for valve I5 is also formed with circumferentiallyspaced ports 56, 51, and. 58. Intermediate port 56 is connected to theinternal pressure chamber 21 of body 9 through an air passage 59 in body9. The endports 51 and 58 are connected to hose couplingnipples 66 and6| respectively through passages 62 and 63 respectively in said body 9.Port 51 is also connected through said passage 62 and a connectingpassage 62 to hose coupling nipple 60' and the port 58 is furtherconnected through passage 63 and a connecting passage 63 to a hose,coupling nipple 6|'.- The hose coupling nipples 66 and 60' are adaptedto be connected each to the outer chambers of a different pair of teatcups for one cow and the hose coupling nipples 6| and 6| are adapted tobe connected each to the outer chamber of a different pair of teat cupsfor another cow. In other words, the nipples 60 and 6| may be consideredas a cooperating pair of nipples, and the nipples 66 and 6| may beconsidered as another pair of cooperating nipples. For cooperation withthe valve seat ports 56, 51, and 58, the valve I is further providedwith a segmental port 64 that is proportioned and posi tioned to spanand connect valve seat ports 56 and 51 in one position of the valvemechanism and to span and connect ports 56 and 58 in the other extremeposition of the valve mechanism, see Figs. 8-10 inclusive. Also, byreference to Figs. 8-10 inclusive, it will be seen thatthe valve ports54 and 55 are of suflicient length to also cooperate with ports 51 and58 to the end that port 51 will be in registration with port 54 whenport 58 is in registration with port 64, and port 56 will be inregistration with port 55 when port 51 is in registration with port 64.

Operation Preparatory to a description of the operation,

it should be understood that valve seat ports 46, 3| and 5 6 areconstantly subject to the partial vacuum maintained in the milk pail andthe chamber 21 of body 9, through connections described, and that thevalve ports 44, 45, 54, and 55 are subject to atmospheric pressure. Ifwe assume now that the'apparatus is connected for operation in the usualmanner, with the nipple 28 connected to a suitable source of partialvacuum such as the usual vacuum pump, the mechanism will operate asfollows: Starting with the parts positioned as in Fig. 8, it will beclear that the pressure chambers l3 of cylinder bores cylinder bores Hand II, respectively, will tend 6 to remain in their .extreme positionsillustrated in Fig. '8; whereas, the pistons C and D of cylinders l2 andI2, respectively, will start moving from-rightto left responsive to thelow pressure on one side and the relatively high pressure on the otherside. When the pistons C and D of cylinder bores l2 and [2",respectively, reach their extreme left hand positions shown in Fig. 9,they will have moved with them the valve l5 to the position shown inFig. 9, in which position of valve l5 the pressure chamber of cylinderbore H is connected to atmosphere and the pressure chamber of cylinderbore II is subject to the partial vacuum condition of the milk pail andchamber 21. Responsive to this reversal of pressure conditions inthe'chambers of cylinders pH and II, the pistons A and B of saidcylinders H and II respectively will move from the position shown inFigs. 8 and 9 to the position shown in Fig. '10, and will move with themthe valve l4 to the position shown in Fig. 10. When this happens, thepressure chamber of cylinder bore l2 will be connected to'atmosphere andthe pressure chamber of cylinder bore l2 will be subject to the vacuumcondition of chamber 21 thereby causing the pistons C and D of cylinderbores I2 and i2" respectively to move from their left hand positions ofFigs. 9 and 10 to their right hand positions of Fig. 11, moving withthem the valve l5 to the opposite extreme position shown in Fig. 11.This reversing oi the position of valve |5 connects the press'urechamberof cylinder bore [I to the vacuum of chamber 21 and connects the chamberof cylinder bore If to atmosphere, thus causing pistons A and B ofcylinder bores and Il' respectively and valve I4 to move from theirextreme positions of Fig. 11 back to'their starting positions of Fig. 8.The above recited cycle of operation will, of course, be continuallyrepeated, and under the oscillatory movement of valve l5 the valve seatports 51 and 58, will be alternately placed in communicationwith the lowpressure chamber 21 and with atmosphere, which function is, of course,the prime purpose of the pulsator mechanism described. In'this respect,it will be seen that in the position of the valve l5 shown in Figs. 8and 11, the port 51 communicating with nipples 66 and isopen toatmospherethrol f'h valve port 54; whereas, the valve seat port 58communicating with nipples 6| and 6| is connected to pressure chamber 21through the valve port 64 and the'short passage 59. In the position ofthe valve 15 shown in Figs. 9 and 10, however, the condition is reversedand port 51 communicating with nipples 60 and 66' is subject to vacuumthrough valve port 64' and passage 56, and valve port 58 communicatingwith nipples 6| and 6| is open to atmosphere through valve port 55. I

Insofar as the operation of the mechanism is concerned, the valve ports54 and 55 could open axially through the valve I5, but I have found thatthe mechanism operates more silently and that the valve seat is betterprotected from dust and foreign matter when the said valve ports openradially through the periphery of the valve l5,

being adapted to be connected to a source of partial vacuum, the innervalve having a series of three ports, the end ports of the last saidseries thereof being open to atmosphere and being so spaced that eachthereof will register with a different cylinder-connected port of theunderlying valve seat in a different extreme position of said innervalve, the intermediate port of the last said series thereof being inthe nature of a segmental channel opening against the valve seat andpositioned and proportioned to span and connect the intermediateunderlying valve seat port with an opposite cylinder connecting valveseat port in opposite extreme positions of the valve, a primary seriesof three circumferentially spaced ports in the annular outer valve seat,a secondary series of three ports in the annular outer valve seat, theintermediate ports of said primary and secondary series thereof 'beingadapted to be connected to a suitable source of partial vacuum, passagesconnecting the end ports of the said primary series thereof to oppositecylinders of another pair thereof, the end ports of the secondary seriesthereof being adapted to be connected to different teat cups, asegmental port in the outer valve of downwardly opening channel shapeadapted to span and connect the intermediate port of the primary valveseat series with opposite end ports of said primary valve seat series inopposite extreme positions of the valve, and another downwardly openingchannel shaped valve port in the outer valve adapted to span and connectthe intermediate port of the said secondary series with opposite endports of that series in opposite extreme positions of the valve, saidouter valve also being provided with spaced ports communicating withatmosphere and each of which will register with a different end port ofsaid primary valve seat series in one extreme position and with an endport of the secondary valve seat series in another extreme position ofthe outer valve.

'7. The structure defined in claim 6 in which the said last noted portsof the outer valve are in the nature of downwardly and radiallyoutwardly opening recesses.

8. The structure defined in claim 3 in which the end ports of the outervalve are open to atmosphere radially through the sides of the valve.

9. In a pulsator for milking machines, laterally spaced pairs of axiallyaligned cylinders, a doubleended piston for each axially aligned pair ofcylinders, concentric valve seats centrally disposed between the openends of said laterally spaced pairs of axially aligned cylinders,concentric valves in contact each with a different one of said valveseats and being mounted for independent oscillatory movements about acommon axis of rotation, a mechanical driving connection between eachdouble-ended piston and a different one of said valves producingoscillatory movement of that valve under reciprocating movements of thedouble-ended piston, and three ports in each valve seat, one leading toa source of pressure differing from atmospheric pressure and the othersto opposite cylinders of an axially aligned pair of cylinders whosedouble-ended piston operates the valve for the other valve seat, saidvalves having ports adapted to interconnect two cooperating valve seatports at a time and to connect the third to atmosphere.

10. A valve structure for air pressure operated milking machinepulsators having laterally spaced pairs of axially aligned cylinders, adouble-ended piston for each axially aligned pair of cylinders andindependent valves each operated by the double-ended piston of anopposite pair of cylinders and each controlling the operation of theother pair of cylinders; the said valve being of the rotary oscillatorytype and being concentrically arranged for independent rotaryoscillatory movements about a common axis of rotation approximatelycentrally located between the several cylinders, and a pair of valveoperating arms mounted for swinging movements about the common axis ofsaid valves and projecting radially therefrom, said arms each beingoperatively coupled to a different double-ended piston and to the valvecontrolling the cylinders of the other double-ended piston.

LAURITS DINESEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,376,804 Foster May 23, 19211,530,412 Ridd Mar. 1'7, 1925 2,253,341 Michaels Aug. 19, 194:1

